Sponsors, Inc. was founded in 1973 by Sister Janice Jackson in cooperation with a group of Catholic nuns and community activists in Eugene, Oregon. The original program, which lasted until 1985 when Sister Janice retired, involved sending community volunteers into Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI) where they would meet inmates who were being released within 18 months to Lane County. At the time, OSCI housed young and first-time offenders. The Community volunteers would "sponsor" the inmate on release, assisting them in finding shelter, employment, and helping in social readjustment. The agency experienced financial difficulties after the retirement of Sister Janice in 1985 until 1987, when it received a Meyer Memorial Trust grant. A new Director was hired in January, 1988, and the programs described below were developed.

Sponsors began providing housing in 1988, with 5 transitional beds and has grown incrementally to our current 102 short and long term transitional beds. The program has been recognized several times for the quality of services which it provides. In 1992, the Oregon Housing and Community Services Agency recognized Sponsors with its non-profit "Excellence in Community Services" award. In 1995, Sponsors was selected by the Oregon Department of Corrections as its Outstanding Private Contractor of the Year.  In 2005, Sponsors was presented with the "2005 Award of Merit" by the Oregon Coalition of Housing & Homelessness" at its statewide conference.  Sponsors was cited for making a "significant contribution in increasing and providing services to the homeless".